The Watchlist Updated – Gameweek 29 – The Defence

Following the conclusion of Gameweek 28 on Saturday, our updated Watchlist rankings, which offer player recommendations for the next four-to-six Gameweeks, have undergone a makeover. Some favourable fixtures bring Leicester’s out-of-position Jeffrey Schlupp into our thoughts, while Swansea defensive assets are on the rise thanks to a kind upcoming schedule.

GOALKEEPERS

Sunderland’s Costel Pantilimon keeps his place at the top thanks to the indifferent form of Ben Foster and a friendly fixture list, which sees the Black Cats play Aston Villa, Newcastle and Crystal Palace in front of their own fans in the next four Gameweeks. Having kept two clean sheets in his last three outings at the Stadium of Light, the chances of further shut outs for the 4.6-priced keeper look strong.

While his form has undoubtedly taken a dip, Ben Foster remains a strong prospect in a West Brom side that has delivered five clean sheets in eight Premier League matches under Tony Pulis. The former Manchester United keeper should keep his place in the starting XI for the visit of Stoke this weekend, and with home encounters against QPR and Leicester, followed by a trip to Selhurst Park on the horizon, the option to double up on the Baggies defence could continue to bring sizeable rewards.

The big riser this week is Swansea’s Lukasz Fabianski. The Swans have managed to keep two clean sheets in their last four away matches, with the Polish international also bagging five bonus points in those shut-outs. Their upcoming schedule on the road (avl, lei, new) looks very favourable, while Liberty clashes against Everton and Hull could also bring further returns, with the Welsh side having registered home clean sheets against four of the five sides that sit below the Toffees and Tigers this season.

David Ospina is a non-mover this time around, with the Gunners upcoming fixture list something of a mixed bag. Showdowns against Sunderland and Burnley are tempered by clashes against Chelsea and Liverpool at the Emirates. It is worth noting that Wojciech Szczesny is in line to start against Man United in the FA Cup tonight, and a strong performance could see Szczesny put pressure on Ospina’s place in the first XI for Premier League duties.

After failing to keep a clean sheet in Tottenham’s double Gameweek, Hugo Lloris suffers a slight fall in this week’s rankings. Spurs have only kept out their opponents in two of their last 13 Premier League matches, so despite a strong upcoming schedule following this weekend’s trip to Old Trafford (LEI, bur, AVL, new, sot), it is hard to trust the Tottenham rearguard with any great confidence right now.

After keeping a second clean sheet in their last three matches, Joe Hart is back on the radar. With Vincent Kompany and Pablo Zabaleta left out for the 2-0 victory against Leicester, Hart looks the only viable City option at the back right now. With the trip to Old Trafford in Gameweek 32 the only difficult fixture in the next six (bur, WBA, cpl, WHM, AVL), it may be time to place some faith in the champions’ backline as they look to put some pressure on leaders Chelsea.

According to our Season Ticker, Crystal Palace have the second most favourable schedule over the next six Gameweeks (QPR, sto, MCI, sun, WBA, HUL), which brings Julian Speroni to our attention. The Eagles have only managed one shut-out in eight league matches since Alan Pardew’s arrival but, having conceded just six goals in as many outings, the friendlier fixture list could see Palace turn those improved defensive performances into clean sheets.

Fraser Forster suffers a drop with a particularly unfriendly looking upcoming schedule. A trip to Stamford Bridge is up next for the Saints, while matches at Everton and Stoke also look tough propositions. Home encounters against Burnley and Hull may persuade owners to hold their Southampton defensive assets, and with three clean sheets in their last five matches, there is a chance that Ronald Koeman’s defence could continue to deliver returns even in the face of a tricky fixture list.

DEFENCE

Branislav Ivanovic remains at the summit thanks to a strong schedule and some outstanding form. The 7.5-valued defender has produced attacking returns in five of his last eight Premier League appearances, along with four clean sheets in that period. With some very favourable short-term fixtures (SOU, hul, STO, qpr), the Serbia international could well continue to bring in the points for his legion of owners.

West Brom defender Craig Dawson rises again this week, with the Baggies defence still looking a great option for Fantasy managers. Now priced at 4.5 in Fantasy Premier League (FPL), Dawson still looks a bargain pick ahead of three home matches (STO, QPR, LEI) in the next four. Having narrowly failed to earn an assist against Southampton before missing a golden opportunity against Aston Villa, Dawson also offers a decent attacking threat for Tony Pulis’ side.

Swansea’s Kyle Naughton is another budget option who features highly in this week’s rankings. Since signing from Tottenham in January, the 4.3-priced defender has played his part in two clean sheets in the last six for the Swans, whilst also grabbing an assist against Sunderland. With a favourable upcoming schedule, Naughton, who has an ownership of just 0.8%, looks a solid option.

After registering just one shut out in some favourable matches in the last four, our faith in Arsenal defender Hector Bellerin has taken a slight dip. The young Spaniard looks to have reclaimed his spot in the starting XI after dropping to the bench against Crystal Palace in Gameweek 26, and does offer plenty of attacking potential, having made 35 touches in the final third against QPR, more than both Olivier Giroud (22) and Santi Cazorla (28).

A big new entry in this week’s rankings is Leicester’s Jeffrey Schlupp. The Ghana international should benefit from a very strong schedule (HUL, tot, WHM, wba, SWA, bur/CHE) in the next six, while having registered seven shots in the last six Gameweeks, offers an attacking threat from a more advanced position down the left for the Foxes. Coming in at just 4.5 in FPL, he looks a great differential with an ownership of just 0.6% and has scored four times in all competitions already this term.

Scott Dann remains our favoured Palace option at the back, largely due to his attacking potential. The former Blackburn defender has registered 25 touches in the penalty area over the last six Gameweeks, more than any other defender. With plum home fixtures against QPR, West Brom and Hull in the next six, Dann could well add to his two goals and pair of assists he has picked up this season.

Despite grabbing attacking points in his last two starts, Danny Rose drops this time around following the double Gameweek. The Tottenham full-back was rested against QPR, but should return to this side for the trip to Old Trafford on Sunday. But with faith in the ability of Mauricio Pochettino’s side to keep clean sheets pretty low, Rose may have to rely on his attacking threat if he is to continue to provide solid returns.

Sunderland’s Anthony Reveillere is a non-mover this week, but he remains a reliable option for Fantasy managers. The French international has started every match since returning from a muscle injury and looks a safe choice over the coming period as the Black Cats look to steer clear of the relegation zone.

Although Ryan Bertrand still offers good value at 5.7 in FPL, his stock takes a slight hit this week with some tricky fixtures in the coming period. Only the home encounters against Burnley and Hull look favourable, so owners may have to rely on Bertrand’s attacking threat for returns over the next month.

With Philipp Wollscheid picking up a groin injury in the 2-0 win against Everton, Marc Wilson takes over as our preferred Stoke option at the back. The 4.3-valued defender has started the last three matches for Mark Hughes’ side, where they have conceded just one goal. With a trip to Stamford Bridge in Gameweek 31 the only tough looking fixture in the next six (wba, CPL, whm, SOT, SUN), the Republic of Ireland international could continue to bring in the points in the coming weeks.

Although Liverpool have some tough upcoming fixtures (swa, MUN, ars), the form of the much improved defence means Martin Skrtel remains on our radars. The Reds have kept six clean sheets in their last eight Premier League matches, and with Brendan Rodgers allaying any fears over Skrtel’s fitness after being stretchered off against Blackburn yesterday, the Slovakian international looks a strong option, particularly considering he tops all defenders with 19 bonus points this season.

With only two clean sheets in his last 11 appearances, Aaron Cresswell suffers a fall this week. The West Ham left-back does offer plenty of attacking potential, having registered a goal and four assists this season, but coming in at 5.7 in FPL, there look to be a few better options out there right now despite some favourable fixtures (SUN, lei, STO) in the next four.

For those losing ground in mini-leagues, in may be time to roll the dice on Leighton Baines once more. The Everton defender failed a late fitness test ahead of the 2-0 defeat at Stoke, but should be fit to return against Newcastle on Sunday. Now back down to his starting price of 7.0, the England international could be worth a punt in the hope that he can add to his two goals and eight assists picked up so far this season.

Like Danny Rose, QPR defender Yun Suk-Young suffers a drop in the latest rankings following the double Gameweek. The South Korea international picked up a single point over the two matches, and with the R’s upcoming schedule (cpl, EVE, wba, CHE, avl, WHM) not particularly favourable, it is hard the back the Rangers defence with any real confidence at the moment.